07.28.08
I Just Finished Reading “Sons”
A couple weeks ago, my youngest son finished reading one of my old time favorite books called The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. I was about his same age (14) when I first read it and was just fascinated with the story and with Buck’s skill in writing and storytelling. After reading that book, I also read a few of Buck’s other books such as Peony, Imperial Woman, and The Three Daughters of Madame Liang. I enjoyed every one of them.
It has been many years since I indulged in reading fiction literature. Somehow I had been drawn to more historical books and health books and other “how to” books and had forgotten about fiction. Now that my son completed reading The Good Earth, our discussions of the book reminded me of how much I was captivated by that book and how I could scarcely put it down until I came to the end. So I thought he might like to read another Pearl S. Buck book. I don’t know how or why I missed it or didn’t know it, but I found that The Good Earth is the first part of a triology. The second part is Sons, and the third A House Divided. Why had I not known this? Ha!
Now, 30 years later I have a renewed interest in Buck’s story of the family of Wang Lung. When I returned Rumer Godden’s In This House of Brede last week, I checked out Buck’s Sons. I’ll try to recheck Godden’s book again later to finish that story. One of the gals in my knit group claimed that Godden was her all time favorite author when she was younger, but she was not familiar with In This House of Brede. I gather that Godden has quite a few other books, but had changed her style (or subject matter) a bit later on. I’m gathering that it’s not the story of cloistered nuns that gained her followers. I had merely opened Sons to read the very first line, and I was hooked again! Again, I hated to put the book down to do my chores and errands, and as soon as I had a moment, my face was back in that book until this morning, I finished it. And oh my! I am still impressed with Buck’s writing and her skill with weaving her stories. It’s as if once I started to read her words and descriptions I was sucked into another life and I’m there watching this movie. Her descriptions of China and the people are so colorful and lively that it’s interesting to follow. Her insight into human nature and tendencies is also notable. I remember years ago reading the end of The Good Earth and thinking, “Oh, no!” And now many years later I find there is a sequel, and again, when I come to the end, my thinking is, “Oh, no!” Ha ha! Now I know I must check out A House Divided. But first I’ll try to finish up the Speedwell. I don’t know why I struggle to read it. I’ve already had this book for several weeks, but have only managed to read up to page 60. I’m puzzled at why it’s such a struggle. Some parts are interesting enough for me such as what privateering was like and some of the descriptions of early maritime, but still it’s slow reading for me. When I read The Bounty, the True Story of The Mutiny on the Bounty, it was over 400 pages, and I whizzed through it with gusto, so I know it’s not the nautical language that’s slowing me down. At first I thought perhaps I’m just not in the mood for reading, but then I picked up Sons, and again whizzed through the book in a few days with it’s 313 pages, it made me wonder why. I think that part of the reason some books like Buck’s captivates me is character development. Buck’s characters are well-developed, and now that I think of it the main characters in The Bounty are also very interesting characters. The characters draw me into the story to want to know more.
Okay, so my bottom line is that if you enjoyed reading The Good Earth, then I think you’ll enjoy reading Sons. I know I’m not saying much about the story line because I don’t want to spoil it if anyone still hasn’t read it. I will say that Sons is a continuation of the lives of Wang Lung’s three sons and their children, particularly their sons since as the story goes, girls are just girls and of not much consequence, ha! Although we still see how women, as insignificant as the men make them out to be, still greatly influenced the men. And now that I finally finished it, I can welcome my chores again without trying to hurry so that I can get back into reading the story.
So must dash for now.
Marlakins
